METHOD FOR FIXING IMAGES IN PLASTICS, ADHESIVE LAYER, AND FIXED IMAGE

• US 20100291331A1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coyando GmbH
• Original Assignee: Coyando GmbH
• Inventors: Schaefer, Konstanze
• Granted Patent: US 8,414,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/35.7
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14696 transparent decorated inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14704 ink decorations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14713 decorations in contact with injected material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14737 decorations printed on the insert by a digital imaging technique
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2795/002 before shaping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14688 Coating articles provided with a decoration
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/02 Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/0691 using sheet like material, e.g. sheet blow-moulding from joined sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/24 Lining or labelling
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2037/243 Coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/414 Translucent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2429/00 Carriers for sound or information
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 33/00 Layered products characterised by particular properties or particular surface features, e.g. particular surface coatings; Layered products designed for particular purposes not covered by another single class
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/24 with at least one layer not being coherent before laminating, e.g. made up from granular material sprinkled onto a substrate B32B37/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0054 using protective coatings or film forming compositions cured by thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential

Abstract

A method for fixing images in plastic moldings which allows images to be fixed in a plastic molding in such a way that the image is embedded therein and does not experience lasting changes, even for elastic plastic moldings. To avoid loss of image quality when the image is transferred into the plastic molding, the method for fixing images in plastic moldings after generating an image on an adhesive layer is characterized in that an image receptor layer of liquid plastic is applied to the image which, with or without an additional carrier, is generated on the adhesive layer. Components of the adhesive layer are at least partially miscible with the liquid plastic when it is applied. The liquid plastic phase is then converted to a solid plastic phase.

Claims

1. Method for fixing images in plastic moldings after generating an image on an adhesive layer,

applying an image receptor layer of liquid plastic to the image which, with or without an additional carrier, has been generated on the adhesive layer, wherein components of the adhesive layer are at least partially miscible with the liquid plastic when it is applied, and

then converting the liquid plastic phase to a solid plastic phase.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the image receptor layer of liquid plastic is applied to the image generated on the adhesive layer, and after a contact time of at least one second this liquid plastic phase is converted to a solid plastic phase.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a plastic melt is applied.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a liquid, curable plastic is applied.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a liquid plastic containing a solvent or solvent mixture is applied.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a liquid plastic containing hydrophilic or hydrophobic solvents is applied.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that an additional carrier of the adhesive layer is removed after the image receptor layer is converted to the solid plastic phase.

8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a volume of liquid plastic is applied which is at least as great as the volume of the adhesive layer.

9. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that after removal of the carrier a base layer of plastic is applied in its place.

10. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the base layer is applied as a liquid plastic phase.

11. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the base layer is applied as a solid plastic phase.

12. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a composition of the adhesive layer is selected which enters into molecular interactions with the liquid plastic of the image receptor layer.

13. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that an adhesive layer is used which contains at least one component which is at least partially soluble in the liquid plastic phase and/or enters into a chemical reaction with the plastic.

14. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that commercially available polyester films having a bonding layer are used.

15. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that liquid duroplastic, thermoplastic, and elastomeric plastics or plastic mixtures are applied which after the conversion to the solid plastic phase have transparent, nontransparent, translucent, or opaque optical characteristics and/or are colored.

16. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that polyurethanes are used.

17. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a mixture of polyurethane and silicones is used.

18. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that epoxides and polyester are used.

19. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that aqueous polymer dispersions are used.

20. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that polycarbonates are used.

21. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that polyethylene, polypropylene, or polystyrene, or other polyalkylenes are used.

22. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that polymers from the group of acrylic compounds are used.

23. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier is not removed, and thus acts as a base layer.

24. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the image receptor layer is applied as solid plastic to the image generated on an adhesive layer, and is then at least partially brought into the liquid phase.

25. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a plastic which may be melted by heating is used.

26. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the solid plastic is laminated or extruded onto the adhesive layer as a film.

27. Adhesive layer on which an image is generated, comprising components based on at least one of hydrophilic and hydrophobic plastics which are brought into the liquid phase.

28. Adhesive layer according to claim 27, characterized in that the adhesive layer has a removable carrier.

29. Adhesive layer according to claim 27, characterized in that the adhesive layer contains surfactant substances such as tensides.

30. Adhesive layer according to claim 27, characterized in that modified natural polymers such as polymers based on cellulose or gelatin, as well as proteins, are contained as plastics.

31. Fixed image, comprising a plastic molding which contains an embedded image.

32. Fixed image according to claim 31, characterized in that the plastic molding together with the image is elastically deformable without the image experiencing lasting changes during the deformation.

33. Fixed image according to claim 31, characterized in that the plastic molding has partially or completely transparent, nontransparent, translucent, or opaque optical characteristics and/or is colored.

34. Fixed image according to claim 31, characterized in that the plastic molding is a hollow body.

35. Method for fixing digital images in plastic moldings after a digital image is generated by digital printing on a carrier having a bonding layer, comprising applying an image receptor layer of liquid plastic to a digital image generated on an adhesive layer, and after a contact time of at least one second, converting this liquid plastic phase to a solid plastic phase.